Could an app reverse the early signs of
dementia?

New research from the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia
suggests that Brain training games can boost the memory and may reduce the risk
of dementia.

Researchers used an app called ‘Game Show’ to treat
people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Participants played the game on an
iPad and had to try and win gold coins by putting different patterns in their
correct places, with the game becoming increasingly challenging as players
succeed, in order to keep them stimulated.

42 people over-45 living with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
participated in the study, which last for one month. Half of the participants played
Game Show for two hours a week and the other half played no video games at all.

The results, published in the International Journal of
Neuropsychopharmacology, revealed that players improved their “episodic” memory
by about 40 per cent and participants said that
they enjoyed playing it, and felt motivated to continue playing.

This helps with the day-to-day activities such as remembering where we
put our car keys, or a joke we
shared with friends.

Dr
Carol Routledge from Alzheimer’s Research UK said: “Game Show could hold some
benefit for people with mild memory problems.

“But
without more research we can’t tell if the same benefits could be achieved with
any other electronic game.

“The
fear of a dementia diagnosis is at an all-time high so there is a lot of
interest in cognitive brain training.”